And not only this, but we also celebrate in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope. (Romans 5:3-4, NASB)
Golf writers had a lot to write about early Sunday morning of the 2026 The Masters. Rory had started Saturday with a grand lead, but adversity struck on the back nine. As Rory lost ground, Cameron Young charged up the leaderboard.
Sunday proved to be a congested leaderboard, more like Chutes and Ladders. While the field surged with birdies, Rory stumbled early until the tide turned and he climbed back to the top.
One golf writer said, “McIlroy has long preached about his optimism, that he’s not willing to give up or get hurt because that’s the toll for the road he chose.” This sounds a bit like the hope that Paul writes about to the Romans.
Augusta National can cause great suffering for even the best golfers in the world. But Rory’s character has grown through overcoming adversity on the weekend. His steady perseverance earned him a second green jacket.
For followers of Jesus, moving through tribulation (sufferings, adversity) with perseverance that builds proven character is soil for hope to bloom.
There is nothing pleasant when we experience suffering. Paul was not saying to merely endure our sufferings or to survive them.
A much more radical engagement is that we are to celebrate in our suffering. What? Really?
This doesn’t mean pain in and of itself is good, but there is something that suffering produces … if we are willing to open the eyes and ears of our heart and mind.
Our modern, technology-oriented world teaches that difficulty can be avoided, fixed, or escaped as quickly as possible. We scroll or medicate to numb discomfort.
And yet, the Bible contends that some of the most important things growing inside of us can only take root in the soil of suffering (pain, hardship, struggles).
Perseverance is the quiet, steady refusal to quit. When we move through cycles that require perseverance, our character goes through a proving process in which courage, integrity, respect, honesty, taking responsibility, kindness, servant-heartedness, and courtesy can take root.
A proven character opens the door to hope — the confident, anchored expectation that God is not finished with us or with his created world.
Theologian and Anglican Bishop John Ashley Null likes to ask athletes he mentors, “What is God doing in you through your sport, especially when failure happens.” This translates to the hard things we face in life, too.
What is God doing in us through the sufferings we face day to day? The heart and character growth that could not have been formed any other way?
“The struggle is not a detour from your story. For those who trust God, it is the story (author unknown).” This is hope … “a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul (Hebrews 6:19).”
Prayer: Lord, help me in my time of suffering. Be the foundation of my hope through the building of my character by perseverance.